RIGA SYMPHONY 2025
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Regulations

Riga Symphony Festival December 11-14, 2025.

The Riga Symphony Festival gathers talented and professional performers from around the world for a high-level vocalists’ competition. The festival is held as a celebration of youth singing-vocal creativity, as a creative meeting of leaders and specialists aimed at exchanging experiences, establishing business and creative contacts. The competition regulations can be viewed on this page.

The application deadline is October 10.

Categories:

  • WORLD HITS
  • LATVIAN COMPOSERS / NATIVE LANGUAGE SONGS
  • FOLK SONGS
  • AUTHOR’S ORIGINAL SONG 
  • SONGS FROM MOVIES AND MUSICALS

Diamond Voice of Riga Symphony — Vocal Battle of Past Prize Winners.
The Best of the Best • One Award for the Entire Festival .

Special Award by Composer J. L. Švilpe
Granted for the best performance of the composer’s original song • One award — the highest distinction of the entire festival

Category: “The Roots of Talents”
A special category for talented adult singers (age 25+).
Here, participants may perform as soloists, duets, or ensembles of parents, as well as jointly with their children. Only one award is granted for the entire festival.

Participants may also take part with a concert act in the festival’s non-competitive program. 

Age Categories:

5-7 years
8-11 years
12-14 years
15-17 years
18-25 years

Festival Conduct.

The Riga Symphony Competition consists of 2 parts.

First Part – Submission of applications and jury audition – until October 10.

To submit an application for audition, it is necessary to:

1) Fill in the application form on our official website: www.rigasymphony.lv or directly via reg.rigasymphony.lv.
If you have difficulties submitting the form or attaching files, please contact the Organizing Committee — they will gladly assist you.

After submitting the application, you can edit it in your personal account and even replace the phonogram until 01/11/2025.After this date, any changes will be subject to an additional fee. After December 1, no changes.

2) Pay the registration fee of 45 € to the Festival’s account. After that, the Organizing Committee and the Admission Committee will start working with you. 

The Commission meets every two weeks to review the contest submissions.
They listen to the performances you provide and give recommendations regarding both repertoire and preparation for the competition.

If you already hold an Invitation Certificate for participation in the Final and have successfully passed the audition, you simply need to:

  1. Fill out the online form.

  2. Send a scan of your Certificate.

  3. Pay the fee of 45 €.

Your Certificate will be taken into account when preparing the final invoice.

Second Part

Festival Timeline — December 11–14, 2025, Riga, Latvia

  • December 11 – Opening of the event at 3:00 PM.
    Evening program: LIDO and Church visit.

  • December 12 – Competition Day.
    First competitive performance at 9:00 AM
    (Accreditation and sound check from 8:00 AM).

  • December 13 – Gala Concert concludes at 10:30 PM.

  • December 14 – Masterclasses until 1:00 PM.

Please make sure to plan your arrival at the FESTIVAL and departure accordingly.

Technical Requirements

General performance rules

  • Each contestant performs one piece in one nomination.

  • The duration of the competition piece must not exceed 3:00 minutes.
    If the time limit is exceeded, the song will be shortened (mixed).

Phonogram rules

  • A backup version of the phonogram in MP3 format must be provided on a flash drive.

  • Soloists are allowed to use recorded back vocals in the phonogram, as well as the main voice in the choruses, but only if the soloist improvises.

  • Phonograms containing the main vocal part in the verses are not permitted. Such entries will be removed from the competition, and the contestant will be disqualified.

Important
Failure to comply with these requirements may lead to the participant’s disqualification.

Explanations by nomination

World Hit

  • When performing popular works, contestants are encouraged to show their own interpretation and creative approach, rather than simply copying the original.

Author’s Original Song

  • This nomination highlights new and unknown works for children and teenagers.

  • Each composer may establish a special prize for the best performance of their work.
    (The composer’s application must be sent to the festival’s email.)

  • Composer Jelena Lorena Švilpe will additionally select one best performer of works composed specifically by her.

The Best of the Best – Diamond Voice of Riga Symphony

  • This nomination is open only to winners of previous Riga Symphony Festivals (Gold Symphony winners – first place, and Grand Prix holders).

  • Participants will compete in vocal artistry and fight for the title “Diamond Voice of Riga Symphony”.

  • This is the only special award of the entire Festival.

  • Contestants must prepare one piece in any genre, where their vocal abilities are especially well demonstrated.

Competition Jury

The jury of the Riga Symphony Festival consists of professional and highly qualified specialists in the field of children’s and youth creativity from different countries — organizers and producers of international festivals and competitions, as well as leading hosts of music programs on TV and radio.

Evaluation criteria include:

  • purity of intonation and sound quality,

  • performance skills,

  • compliance of the repertoire with the performer’s abilities and age group,

  • stage culture and artistry.

Each nomination is judged by a separate jury corresponding to that nomination. Voting is conducted openly, and the competition is broadcast live online to audiences worldwide.

The fight for the Grand Prix takes place during the Gala Concert. Contestants competing for the Grand Prix are evaluated by a completely new and independent jury that has not previously seen the performances and is not familiar with the contestants. This jury determines both the winners in each nomination and the overall Festival Winner.

After their performance, participants receive a unique opportunity to personally meet each jury member. This is a valuable chance for feedback and professional advice — don’t miss it!

Awarding

All participants of the Riga Symphony competition will compete for prestigious awards and recognition.

Main awards by age category

  • Golden Symphony Award and Diploma

  • Silver Symphony Award and Diploma

  • Bronze Symphony Award and Diploma

Special festival awards

  • Diamond Voice of Riga Symphony – one award for the entire Festival

  • Composer’s Award – one award for the entire Festival

  • The Roots of the Talents – one award for the entire Festival

Grand Prix Nomination
Each nomination has its own Grand Prix:

  • World Hits

  • Folk Song

  • Author and Original Song

  • Latvian Composer’s Song or Song in the Participant’s Native Language

  • Movie or Musical Song

The Grand Prix of the entire Riga Symphony Festival (€ 1,000) will be awarded to the most outstanding participant of the Festival, regardless of their nomination. The nominee for the Festival Grand Prix can be recommended by the jury only in one nomination.

Every participant receives:

  • Festival Participant Diploma and Medal (according to results)

  • Festival souvenir

  • The person who prepared the participant (teacher, vocal coach, etc.) receives a Letter of Appreciation

Additionally, there are special prizes and awards from producers.

Payment Order

Payment Deadline

Full payment must be completed by October 25.

Registration (First Round of Competition)

The first round includes an assessment of the applied song and jury evaluation in the contestant selection process.

  • A registration fee of €45 must be paid together with the submission of the participation questionnaire.

  • Without this payment, the applicant will not be entered into the competition database.

  • If the participant withdraws from the competition for personal reasons, the €45 registration fee is non-refundable.

The registration fee covers:

  • processing of the participation questionnaire,

  • creation of the participant’s personal festival account,

  • review of the soundtrack and video performance for admission,

  • quality check of the participant’s photo for the festival business card,

  • official festival correspondence with the participant.

Participation Fees (International Final, per nomination)

  • Solo – €95

  • Duets – €140

  • Ensembles / Groups (3–4 participants) – €180

  • Ensembles / Groups (5–10 participants) – €250

  • Out-of-competition performance (concert number) – €70

  • Support dancers on stage – €8 per person (max. 6 dancers per performance)

  • Professional video recording – €35

Broadcast & Media

  • The Festival will be broadcast live on the Riga Symphony YouTube channel.

  • Professional multi-camera video recording (3–4 cameras) is available in high quality by pre-order for €35.

Additional Information

  • Participants may apply in several nominations (one work per nomination), subject to payment.

  • Accommodation during the festival dates must be booked through the festival organizers.

  • The cost of festival accreditation is €295 per person. Mandatory for all participants except participants from Latvia

Accreditation Includes

  • Accommodation in Radisson Hotels (2–3 local accommodation) with breakfast included.
    Single occupancy surcharge: €25 per day.

  • Competitive performance on a professional stage with high-quality sound and lighting.

  • Stage equipped with a LED screen backdrop.

  • Personalized business card and video series (3 minutes) prepared for each participant.

  • Live broadcast of competitive performances worldwide.

  • Evaluation by a highly professional international jury.

  • Opportunity for personal communication with jury members and receiving creative feedback after the performance.

  • Evening programs and networking events for exchanging contacts and building friendships.

  • Awards: medal and diploma for each participant.

  • Additional concert performances and live broadcasts.

  • Red Carpet Gala Concert in Riga’s best concert hall, with TV broadcast and production by top Latvian directors.

  • Possibility to meet producers from around the world and receive invitations to other festivals.

  • Provided transfer to the performance venues.

  • Memorable gifts and souvenirs.

  • Tickets for all concerts and events of the Festival.

  • Tickets for all workshops and creative meetings.

Costs Not Included

  • Visa invitation letter – €35 (if necessary)

  • Transfer: airport – hotel (self-arranged)

  • Health insurance

Payment Terms & Deadlines

  • Payment deadline: November 1, 2025

  • If the participation fee is paid after November 1, the participation cost increases by €50

  • Any changes requested after November 1 will also incur an additional fee of €50

  • After December 1, 2025 – NO CHANGES will be accepted

⚠️ Please pay close attention to payment deadlines and conditions to avoid extra charges or complications.

Payment Information

When making the payment, please specify in the payment details:
Application Number – Name Surname , for participation in Riga Symphony 

Example:
1245, Ivanova Marija, for participation in Riga Symphony

Requisites:

  • Beneficiary: EUROPEAN CENTRE OF MUSIC FOR YOUTH, BIEDRĪBA

  • Registration number: 40008244950

  • Address: Skolas 34, Riga, Latvia

  • Bank: AS LUMINOR BANK

  • Account number: LV89RIKO0001080145495

  • SWIFT: RIKOLV2X

  • Bank address: Skanstes 12, Riga, LV–1013

Refund policy:

  • If a participant withdraws for personal reasons, the payment is non-refundable.

  • If the festival is canceled or postponed due to epidemiological reasons, the payment will be refunded minus organizational costs.

Contest Phonogram

  • The maximum length of the competition song is 3 minutes.

  • The file name and email subject must follow the festival regulations.

Email subject format:
Name Surname – Song Title

File naming format:
APPLICATION NUMBER_SURNAME_NAME_SONG TITLE_NOMINATION

Example:
2345_Smith_Adam_HURT_WH.mp3

Nomination Codes

  • WH – World Hits

  • F – Folk Songs

  • OS – Author’s Original Songs

  • LV-NL – Latvian Composer’s Song / Song in Native Language

  • M – Movie or Musical Song

  • DV – Diamond Voice of Riga Symphony

  • SP – The Roots of the Talents (singing talented parents)

Visa Processing

To obtain a Schengen visa through the festival, please provide the following information in Latin letters:

  • First name, Last name – exactly as in the passport

  • Date of birth

  • Place of birth (city, country)

  • Citizenship

  • Registration address (including country and city)

Payment:

  • The cost of registration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia is €35 per person.

  • This fee must be transferred to the festival’s bank account.

Procedure:

  • After the invitation is issued, the organizing committee will send you the invitation number.

  • With this number, you must contact the Embassy or Consulate of Latvia in your country to apply for the visa.

For accompanying parents:

  • It is necessary to send a scanned copy of the child’s birth certificate in Russian or English.

Photo and Video Policy

  • Throughout the festival, only mobile phone shooting without flash is permitted.

  • Use of professional photo or video equipment is allowed only with official accreditation.

  • Penalty for violation: €150.